Philae detects organics on comet's surface The first measurements taken by the Philae lander, which touched down on Comet 67P on 12 November, reveal organic compounds are present on the comet's surface, and also hint at a dense, icy interior.

Earth ripe for life soon after formation There has been water on Earth since shortly after it formed, say researchers from the US, who compared the deuterium to hydrogen ratios in water on Earth and from the Vesta asteroid belt.

Spaceflight Journal Blasts Off Nature Publishing Group and Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute announced a new open access journal, npj Microgravity, which will accept submissions in late October.